If you were to mention Donnie Darko today, many people’s minds would go straight to the word “iconic.” And rightfully so, but it wasn’t always viewed that way. Without spoiling too much for those who have yet to see the sci-fi thriller, there is a plane crash scene that is integral to the movie, though it premiered just six weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, forcing studios to pull all of its advertising. The film had a $4.5 million budget, largely funded through the generosity of producer and cast member Drew Barrymore, but it only grossed around $517,000 during its theatrical run. In other words, Donnie Darko was a box office flop.
It didn’t stay a flop forever, though, and like many of Jake Gyllenhaal’s movies, it’s now considered a cult classic. Donnie Darko found new life when it arrived on DVD later that year, especially as home video technology surged in popularity. Home video sales earned more than $10 million in the U.S. alone, and reissues eventually pushed its total box office past $7.5 million worldwide. It is even ranked No. 2 on Empire’s list of the greatest independent films of all time. Much of this is thanks to Barrymore, who backed the project through thick and thin, literally.
Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly struggled to find a studio willing to financially back the script because of how bizarre the story was. This part will forever be true, but that’s what makes it the gritty, gripping movie audiences fell in love with. Barrymore stepped in with her producing partner, Nancy Juvonen, after they read the script and fell in love with it. Through their production company, Flower Films, they signed on to produce the film, while Barrymore also joined the cast in a supporting role. Their involvement helped bring the budget to $4.5 million, while Barrymore’s star power gave the film the industry credibility it needed to finally get the green light and attract the rest of the cast. Thank you, Drew Barrymore, for essentially gifting us Donnie Darko. Barrymore herself has acknowledged just how important her involvement was, telling People:
“If it wasn’t for my partner Nancy Juvonen finding the script, well then I wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
Donnie Darko is truly a generational feat, not just for its unique and intriguing storytelling, but for its incredible cast. The film features some of Hollywood’s best actors, including, of course, Barrymore and Gyllenhaal, along with his real-life sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays his on-screen sister, as well as Jena Malone, Noah Wyle, Seth Rogen, Patrick Swayze, and Mary McDonnell. At its core, Donnie Darko explores complex ideas about mental health, sacrifice, isolation, and destiny that still ring true today, 25 years later.
It’s no wonder the movie now has an 88% Tomatometer score and an 80% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. Just in time for all things spooky and eerie, and to ring in the film’s 25th anniversary, Donnie Darko is now available to stream on a plethora of services, including Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, and Peacock.
- Release Date
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October 26, 2001
- Runtime
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114 minutes
- Director
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Richard Kelly